Inside the bizarre world of Waco cult leader David Koresh who was once mocked as ‘Mr Retardo’ but later convinced dozens he was the son of God

Koresh was the notorious leader of the Branch Davidians, whose standoff with the US Government in Waco ended in a compound fire - said to be lit by members themselves - that killed him and 75 others on April 19, 1993

By Corey Charlton

28th February 2018, 12:49 pm

Updated: 28th February 2018, 3:29 pm

IN 1981, a young wannabe rock star and preacher named Vernon Wayne Howell arrived at a remote religious compound in Waco, Texas.

Most members of the peaceful but radical Branch Davidian community were pleased with the charismatic young man's arrival.

Cult leader David Koresh, pictured, was born Vernon Howell to a solo teenage mum in 1959

But within just 12 years, he would join a select group of infamous cult leaders after violently ousting his rivals, taking any woman he wanted as his own, then killing himself and 75 others others in an apocalyptic mass suicide broadcast on live TV.

Howell, who later changed his name to David Koresh, was the notorious leader of the Branch Davidians, whose standoff with the US Government in Waco came to a tragic end on April 19, 1993.

The group, suspected of hoarding and illegally trading weapons, was raided by the ATF exactly 25 years ago today.

This raid triggered a shootout that left four agents and six Branch Davidians dead. And it ended almost two months later with the group's compound and everyone in it turned to ashes.

The cause of the fire remains disputed to this day. Members still insist the blaze was caused by the US Government tanks - used to destroy the group's compound after weeks of negotiations with Koresh failed.

But the FBI claims members purposely set fire to the building with everyone still inside in a twisted bid to fulfil David's warped beliefs of a coming Armageddon that would see them all ascend to heaven.

So who was David Koresh?

The skinny, handsome preacher - who famously played guitar to his flock and dreamed of becoming a rock star - had a troubled past.

VOLCAN-WOAH!

MUM'S AGONY

These suspicions triggered the ATF raid on February 28, 1993. Ten people died in the initial shootout, and agents made a tactical retreat to initiate negotiations with Koresh.

These negotiations lasted until April 19 when the US Government ran out of patience and started demolishing the compound with tear gas-firing military tanks.

Moments later the world watched in horror as the entire wooden compound, still containing Koresh and 75 of his followers, burst into flames.

Alongside the charred corpses was Koresh's body. He had received a gunshot wound to the head. But to this day it is not known if he took his own life, or was killed by a member before being engulfed by the flames.